Weighing device



Feb. 7, 1939.

D.QH. TINSLEY WFIGHING DEVICE Filed July 13, 1937 2 Sheetsfsheef 2 JNVENTUR gm TINSLEE'. f7;

DUREE? H 'mm' Patented F eb. I'7, 1939 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in weighing devices and has particular reference to a device for weighing the `mud which is pumped l from deep wells, such as oil wells and the like. 'The principal object of this invention is to determine the percentage of mud in the flow from the well, as this percentage of mud has a very definite relation' to the conditions existing in the well and its depth.

. l0 Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course oi the following description.

In the accompanying'drawings forming a part of this specification andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. -1 is aside elevation of my weighing appa- I ratus, the same being shown partly in cross secnon; v V y Flg.2 is a side elevation of the arrangement of my'device in connection with a well structure:

and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the receiving end of my apparatus.

' In well drilling it is customary to employ drillf continuously weighing this mud, thereby securing a definite record of the-drilling operation.

' In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose oi' illustration is shown a preferred em- .bodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a box located adjacent the well, into which housing in the form of a box a pipe 8 extends,

which pipe has a control valve 1, the vpurpose of I which is obvic'ous.- On the receivingend ofthe pipe 6 is a fitting 8 on which is mounted a strainer 8.

'45 Over this tting is the outlet end of a conduit or pipe II leading from the well being drilled. Be- -neath the box'B is a sluicebox I2 which receives the discharge from the device and empties'the same into a settling tank I8. 'I'he pipe 8 enters 50 the box 5, as before mentioned. and has a :Ilexible connection I4 to a receiver I8. This receiver in the form of a container lis mounted on one endl of a beam or `ami -I-l, pivoted'as at I8. A 'slldinweight-lll'mvable on one end of the beam, serves as a counter-balance for the weight of :the receiver I6. At 2| I have yshown a diaphragm arrangement, which has an end 22 which contacts the end of the beam I1, upon which the weight I8 slides. At 23 I have shown a pump, whereby pressure might be placed upon the op- 5 posite side of the diaphragm from that upon which the end 22 pushes. A pipe 24 is connected to the diaphragm through the pipe 26, as is also a pipe 21, which pipe 21 extends to a recording Indicator 28 located at the well close to the drill- 10 ing. operations. The receiver I6 is preferably pear-shaped as shown. and has a restricted outlet opening V28, which'discharges onto a screen 3| secured to the bottom of the box 5.

As a result of this construction, as the mud is- 15 suing from the well through the pipe II empties onto the receiving fitting 8, the same will flow through the screen 8, and should any small rocks be in it,'they will be discharged into the sluice box. This mud will pass into the pipe 6 and into 20 the receiver I6, which receiver will ll up due to the fact that the inlet is larger than the outlet. Consequently, as the material backs up in the fitting 8, only a sumcient amount can. pass through the strainer 8 to vreplenish that Vescaping z5 from the small opening 28; and as a result, the excess material or mud will pass over the strainer 8 and serve to flush therefrom any accumulated material, such as stones, which might tend to rest upon the strainer were the .entire flow a0 through the fitting., Assoon as the receiver I 8 is illled, it will cause pressure against the pin 22, aiecting the diaphragm so that pressure therefrom willbe conducted through the pipes 26 and 21 to the pressure gage or indicators 28 and 82. 35 Therefore, if there is any-change in the material arising from the well, it will be instantly discernible on the indicators, and, consequently, the A drill men will understand the conditions underground. It is, oi' course, understood that the 40 receiver while empty has been balanced by the weight I8 and the needle on the indicators placed at zero through the use of the pump 23. The operator can now determine at all times the weight of the. mud coming from the well.

A hand hole Il permits cleaning ofthe lnterior of the receiver I8. 'Ihe cleaning is necessary because the mud will at times cake on the interior of the receiver, and therefore, an accurate weighing of the mud passing through would l0 Y not be possib1e.-.

It is tcbe understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described'is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that 'various change relative to the material.

size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjolned claims.

Having thus described my invention, I cla.im:-A

to the discharge of said receiver, and means including a pressure gage actuated by said plvoted arm when the material passing through said receiver changes in weight.

2. A device for measuring the specic gravity of drilling fluid from a well, comprising a pivoted arm, a fluid receiver carried by the arm, said receiver being enclosed and having an inlet port and an outlet port, the area of the inlet port vbeing greater than the area of the outlet port, a

pipe flexibly connected to said inlet port for discharging fluid into the receiver, an outwardly projecting strainer associated with the inlet and of said pipe, whereby when said receiver is filled, fluid issuing over said. strainer will flush said strainer passing only an amount equal to the dis- 4 charge of said receiver, and means including a pressure gauge actuated by said pivoted arm when the fluid passing through said receiver changes in weight.

DORSEY HUBERT TINSLEY. 

